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TCNA HANDBOOK ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE CLASSIFICATIONS

Com1 (Commercial Dry) : Tile surfaces that will not be exposed to moisture or liquid, except for cleaning purposes. Commercial cleaning and maintenance practices typically generate great er water exposure than residential practices. Includes areas adjacent to C2 areas. Examples: Floors in areas with no direct access to the outdoors and no wet utility function, such as hall ways; dry area ceilings; soffits; decorative/accent walls; corri dor walls. Com2 (Commercial Limited Water Exposure) : Tile surfaces that are subjected to moisture or liquids but do not become soaked or saturated due to the system design or time expo sure. If waterproofing is desired, it must be clearly specified. Includes areas adjacent to C3 areas. Examples: Floors in bath rooms and locker rooms; some backsplashes and other walls, such as bathroom walls and wainscots where water exposure is limited and/or water is removed. Com3 (Commercial Wet) : Tile surfaces that are soaked, satu rated, or regularly and frequently subjected to moisture or liq uids. Includes areas adjacent to C4 areas. Examples: Tub walls, shower walls and floors, enclosed pool areas, natatoriums, gang showers, and some commercial kitchen floors and walls. Com4 (Commercial High Humidity, Heavy Moisture Exposure) : Tile surfaces that are subject to continuous high humidity or heavy moisture exposure, especially in enclosed areas. Examples: Con tinuous use steam shower/ steam room walls and ceilings. Com5 (Commercial High Temperature ≥125ºF) : Tile surfaces that are frequently subjected to water or vapor equal to or great er than 125ºF. Examples: Commercial saunas, furnace and boiler areas, and some commercial kitchen floors and walls. Com6 (Commercial Exterior) : Tile surfaces exposed to exterior conditions. When designing such installations, consider local climate and conditions including temperature and temperature fluctuations, humidity and humidity fluctuations, and freeze/ thaw cycling. If waterproofing is desired, it must be clearly specified. Examples: Exterior walls, balconies, decks.

The end user significantly affects the amount of water and va por an installation will be exposed to. Examples provided below and the classifications assigned to the individual methods are guidelines only and are not meant to be all inclusive. Base instal lation method selection on actual exposure levels, and consult with product manufacturers and their specifications. In methods where inclusion of a waterproof membrane is optional, the design professional must clearly specify that a membrane is desired. Op tional membranes are not included unless clearly specified. Res1 (Residential Dry) : Tile surfaces that will not be exposed to moisture or liquid, except for cleaning purposes. Includes areas ad jacent to R2 areas. Examples: Floors in rooms with no direct access to the outdoors and no wet utility function, such as living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms; dry area ceilings, soffits, decorative/ accent walls, fireplaces, some backsplashes and some wainscots. Res2 (Residential Limited Water Exposure) : Tile surfaces that are subjected to moisture or liquids but do not become soaked or saturated due to the system design or time exposure. If wa terproofing is desired, it must be clearly specified. Includes ar eas adjacent to R3 areas. Examples: Floors in bathrooms, kitch ens, mudrooms, laundry, and foyers, where water exposure is limited and/or water is removed; some backsplashes, some wainscots, some countertops. Res3 (Residential Wet) : Tile surfaces that are soaked, saturat ed, or regularly and frequently subjected to moisture or liquids. Examples: Shower floors; floors and other horizontal surfaces where water is not removed or drained, such as some counter tops; tub walls, shower walls, and enclosed pool area walls. Res4 (Residential High Humidity, Heavy Moisture Exposure) : Tile surfaces that are subject to continuous high humidity or heavy moisture exposure. Examples: Intermittent-use steam shower walls, ceilings, and floors. Res5 (Residential High Temperature ≥125ºF) : Tile surfaces frequently subjected to water or vapor equal to or greater than 125ºF. Examples: Furnace and boiler areas. Res6 (Residential Exterior) : Tile surfaces exposed to exterior conditions. When designing such installations, consider local climate and conditions including temperature and temperature fluctuations, humidity and humidity fluctuations, and freeze/ thaw cycling. If waterproofing is desired, it must be clearly specified. Examples: Exterior walls, balconies, decks. Res7 (Residential Submerged) : Tile surfaces exposed to con tinuous water submersion in interior or exterior conditions. Ex amples: Swimming pools, water features, and fountains.

Com7 Sub merged) : Tile surfaces exposed to continuous water submersion in interior or exterior conditions. Examples: Swimming pools, wa ter features, and fountains. (Commercial

Source: Excerpted from “Environmental Exposure Classifications,” in TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, pp. 47. Anderson, SC: Tile Council of North America, 2024. ©2024 Tile Council of North America. Reprinted by permission. Chapter 1 | Pre- and Post-Installation Considerations 14 NTCA Reference Manual | 2024 / 2025